Biological Materials Requiring IBC Review and Approval
Research involving the following materials requires IBC review and approval of a protocol application prior to conducting experiments:
- Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acids
- Human, Animal, or Plant Pathogens
- Human-Derived Materials
- HHS/USDA Select Agents or Biological Toxins
All protocols must be submitted using the IBC Protocol Management System. This system requires Microsoft Silverlight and is only supported on Internet Explorer 11 browser. Please contact your IT service provider for assistance if you need Internet Explorer 11.
If you have any problems accessing or using the Topaz IBC Protocol Management System
or need to add new protocol associates in Topaz, contact Sherika Smith at smiths69@mailbox.sc.edu.
You may contact UofSC's Biosafety Officer at smiths69@mailbox.sc.edu if you would like to request a pre-review of your IBC protocol prior to full committee
review or if you have any questions regarding the IBC protocol submission review or
approval process. Labs are encouraged to request a pre-review for any new protocol.
Protocol pre-reviews must be requested at least five days prior to the protocol submission
deadline.
Protocols must be submitted on or before the submission deadline for the scheduled meeting. There is no expedited approval for experiments requiring review by the full committee.
This schedule is subject to change since the IBC must verify a quorum attendance at each meeting.
| Meeting Date | Submission Deadline |
|---|---|
| February 24, 2021 (Wednesday) | February 3, 2021 (Wednesday) |
| May 19, 2021 (Wednesday) | April 28, 2021 (Wednesday) |
| August 25, 2021 (Wednesday) | July 26, 2021 (Monday) |
| November 10, 2021 (Wednesday) | October 20, 2021 (Wednesday) |
- Location: Virtual Meeting via Microsoft Teams
- Start Time: 3 p.m.
- The laboratory must have submitted a corrective action plan for all deficiencies identified during their most recent lab safety inspection
- All personnel included on the protocol must be up-to-date on required Biosafety Training
- Any biosafety cabinet used for the project must have an updated annual certification
- All personnel included on the protocol must have completed any required occupational health services
The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) provides local review and oversight for research involving recombinant or synthetic nucleic acids and other biological hazards. The NIH Guidelines require the IBC to ensure that research conducted at or sponsored by the university is in compliance with the NIH Guidelines. This requirement is primarily met through the IBC’s review and approval of all research subject to the NIH Guidelines. Members of the IBC are responsible for providing the collective experience and expertise in research involving these materials and the capability to assess the safety of research protocols and to identify any potential risk to workers, other persons, or the environment.
The IBC Charter includes additional information about the committee’s policies and procedures:
NIH OSP Institutional Biosafety Committee Registration Management System
FAQs: NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acids [pdf]
FAQs: IBC Meetings and Minutes
FAQs: Externally Administered Institutional Biosafety Committees
FAQs: Major Actions Under Section III-A of the NIH Guidelines [pdf]
FAQs: National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB)
Biosafety Guidance for COVID-19 Research
If you will be conducting COVID-19 research, please review the following guidance resources. You may contact Sherika Smith or Mark Robbins if you have any questions.
- CDC Information for Laboratories
- CDC Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with COVID-19
- WHO Lab Biosafety Guidance Related to COVID-19
- Canada Biosafety Advisory- SARS-CoV-2
- Laboconco Biosafety Recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
- ABSA Considerations for Handling Potential SARS-CoV-2 Samples
- ABSA SARS-CoV-2 Sample Type Risk Assessment
- NIH Laboratory Biosafety Guidance for Research with SARS-CoV-2 and IBC Requirements under the NIH Guidelines
Note: To ship any COVID-19 research samples, you must have current shipping training. For questions regarding shipping training, email Sherika Smith.
- Saf-T-Pak Packaging Checklist
- IATA Packing Instructions 650 for UN 3373
- Label for UN3373: Cold pack
- Label for UN3373: Dry ice
- CDC schematic for packaging UN3373 Category B
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin., DOT Materials of Trade Exceptions
- IATA: Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for Operators
- ABSA SARS-CoV-2 Packaging and Shipping Information